Homeless man still has some fight in him

John Dadian’s routine of morning coffee at a downtown 7-11 was rudely interrupted this week when a homeless man with shopping cart bumped into him outside the store. Adding injury to injury, the man blamed Dadian for the run-in, sucker-punched him and wandered off spewing epithets. Recovering from a bloody lip and bruised ego, Marine Corps vet Dadian laments, “I think I could have taken him if it had gone two rounds.”

Mayor who? At the Conservative Order for Good Government’s mayoral debate on Tuesday, Nathan Fletcher was asked to evaluate the impact the County Republican Party’s endorsement of Carl DeMaio would have on the San Diego mayor’s race. Fletcher’s pointed reply: “I’m not sure. Why don’t you ask Mayor Steve Francis?”

Politics as usual: During Saturday’s Women’s Hall of Fame dinner, former Democratic Rep. Lynn Schenk was walking Republican DA Bonnie Dumanis around the room, drumming up support for her mayoral bid. Probably a bit awkward for Democratic candidate Bob Filner, but not for long. He reportedly left before the ceremony began . . . Retired Sheriff Bill Kolender has withdrawn his endorsement of Dave Roberts for third-district supervisor in favor of Roberts’ opponent Carl Hilliard, the Del Mar mayor. Kolender says he endorsed Roberts before he knew that Hilliard, a colleague of 35 years, would be running . . . KPBS TV’s coverage of the mayor’s race this month included a personal look at the candidates through their hobbies. Dumanis says she walks her dog. Fletcher works out. Filner plays the piano. DeMaio’s hobby: “Knocking on doors and talking to voters.”

Noteworthy: Business writer Lori Weisberg is one of 25 journalists worldwide to be awarded a Kiplinger Fellowship at Ohio State University this spring. A U-T veteran, Weisberg’s covered city hall, downtown redevelopment, land use, real estate, demographics, and tourism and hospitality. The fellowship is an immersion course in social media and online reporting . . . The 15th annual Humane Society/SPCA Telethon steps up to the big time this year. For the first time, it airs during prime time (Channel 8) on St. Patrick’s Day, with hosts Kimberly King, Dan Cohen and Barbara Lee Edwards.

Still green: The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick will march in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, as usual, Saturday. And, as usual, they’ll be led by Brigadier Gen. Mike Neil, with a traditional post-parade sing-along – featuring Mike Reidy and the In Cast Trio -- at Donovan’s on 5th. The Friendly Sons have been marching in the parade since its inception, in 1980, when Mayor Pete Wilson was Irishman of the Year. Says Neil, the tough Marine: “The Friendly Sons march come rain or come shine.” Good thing. Weatherman says rain.